Business Valuation Services

Know what your business is worth before someone else tells you.

B4Q performs independent business valuations for M&A, fundraising, 409A compliance, gift and estate tax, and buy-sell agreements — defensible numbers built by licensed CPAs, not a spreadsheet guess.

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  • Income, market & asset approaches
  • IRS-defensible methodology
  • 409A, M&A & litigation support
Income Approach Market Approach Asset Approach 409A Compliance
Defensible Value
Backed by Methodology
0Years of Experience
0Satisfied Clients
0Valuation Approaches Applied
0Client Retention Rate
Why It Matters

A number someone else can challenge isn't a valuation.

Whether it's the IRS reviewing a gift tax return, a co-founder negotiating a buyout, or an investor pricing a round, the value you claim only holds up if the methodology behind it does too. An informal estimate or a back-of-envelope multiple won't survive real scrutiny.

B4Q builds valuations using recognized methodologies — income, market, and asset approaches — documented well enough to stand up to an IRS review, a negotiation, or a courtroom.

  • 01 Defensible under IRS review for gift, estate, and 409A purposes.
  • 02 Credible in negotiations with investors, partners, or co-founders.
  • 03 Scoped to the right level of rigor for what's actually at stake.
When You Need One

Common valuation triggers

M&A / TransactionsBuy-side or sell-side pricing
FundraisingPriced rounds & SAFEs
409A complianceStock option strike pricing
Gift & estate taxIRS-defensible reporting
Buy-sell agreementsPartner buyouts & exits
Litigation supportDivorce, disputes, damages
The Methodology

Three approaches. Applied and weighted, not picked at random.

Every credible valuation considers multiple approaches — which one carries the most weight depends on your business and the purpose of the engagement.

APPROACH 01

Income Approach

Values the business based on its ability to generate future cash flow.

  • Discounted cash flow analysis
  • Capitalization of earnings
  • Best fit for stable, cash-generating businesses
APPROACH 02

Market Approach

Values the business relative to comparable companies and transactions.

  • Guideline public company method
  • Comparable transaction analysis
  • Best fit when reliable market comps exist
APPROACH 03

Asset Approach

Values the business based on the net value of its underlying assets.

  • Adjusted net asset value
  • Liquidation value analysis
  • Best fit for asset-heavy or holding companies
Choosing the Right Engagement

A full report or a limited-scope calculation — not every engagement needs the same rigor.

AICPA standards define two distinct engagement types. We help you choose the one that matches what's actually at stake.

Limited scope

Calculation of Value

A limited-scope engagement using agreed-upon procedures — faster and less costly, appropriate when a full report isn't required.

FasterTimeline
LimitedProcedures
Internal useTypical fit
  • Faster turnaround at a lower cost
  • Suitable for internal planning or preliminary discussions
  • Generally not appropriate for IRS or court submission
Procedures performed
Documentation depth
Defensibility
Full scope

Conclusion of Value

A full valuation engagement applying all appropriate approaches, fully documented in a formal report designed to withstand scrutiny.

ComprehensiveTimeline
FullProcedures
IRS, courtsTypical fit
  • Appropriate for IRS filings, litigation, and 409A compliance
  • Fully documented methodology and conclusion
  • Built to hold up under third-party challenge
Procedures performed
Documentation depth
Defensibility
How We Work

From scoping to a report you can actually rely on.

Every engagement is scoped to its purpose before a single number gets calculated.

01

Engagement Scoping

We confirm the purpose of the valuation and whether it calls for a full Conclusion of Value or a limited Calculation of Value.

02

Financial & Industry Analysis

We review historical financials, normalize earnings, and research comparable industry data.

03

Approach Selection & Application

Income, market, and asset approaches are applied and weighted based on what fits your business and purpose.

04

Draft Valuation Report

A draft conclusion is prepared and reviewed with you before the report is finalized.

05

Report Finalization & Delivery

The final report is delivered with full documentation of methodology and conclusion.

06

Ongoing Update Support

For 409A and buy-sell purposes, we support annual refreshes or updates triggered by material events.

What We Often Find

The hidden cost of an informal number.

None of these show up as one dramatic mistake — they surface at the worst possible moment, during a negotiation or a review someone else controls.

General patterns we see across engagements, not a specific client's results.
01

Lost 409A safe harbor

Stock options get priced without an independent valuation, exposing the company and option holders to IRS penalties.

02

Challenged gift & estate values

An informal number gets challenged by the IRS, triggering a costly dispute that a defensible report would have avoided.

03

Deadlocked buy-sell negotiations

Partners disagree on what the business is worth because no independent number exists to anchor the conversation.

04

Down-round complications

A fundraising round gets priced without support, creating disputes with existing investors down the line.

Why B4Q

A valuation built to hold up wherever it's challenged.

Whether that's the IRS, a negotiating table, or a courtroom.

Recognized Methodology

Income, market, and asset approaches applied and weighted according to accepted valuation standards.

Right-Scoped Engagements

We recommend a Calculation or Conclusion of Value based on what your situation actually requires.

Books-to-Report, Coordinated

Paired with our bookkeeping service, valuations start from financials that are already reconciled.

409A Refresh Reminders

We track your annual refresh cycle so option pricing never lapses out of safe harbor.

50+ Businesses Served

Across M&A, fundraising, litigation, and buy-sell engagements.

96% Client Retention

Clients return for every annual refresh and every new transaction.

Questions

Business valuation, answered.

What's the difference between a Calculation of Value and a Conclusion of Value?
A Calculation of Value is a limited-scope engagement using agreed-upon procedures — faster and less costly, but not appropriate for IRS filings or litigation. A Conclusion of Value is a full engagement with a formal report designed to withstand scrutiny from the IRS, courts, or other third parties.
How often should we refresh our 409A valuation?
Generally annually, or sooner if a material event occurs — a funding round, significant change in financial performance, or a material business change. Refreshing on schedule keeps your option pricing within IRS safe harbor.
What factors actually affect our business's value?
Historical and projected cash flow, industry comparables, asset base, customer concentration, and risk factors specific to your business all factor in — which is why a defensible valuation weighs multiple approaches rather than applying a single generic multiple.
Is this different from your accounting or audit services?
Yes — bookkeeping and audits assess whether your financial statements are accurate. Valuation uses those financials as a starting point to determine what the business is actually worth for a specific purpose, like a sale, gift, or option grant.
Do you provide litigation and expert witness support?
Yes — for divorce, shareholder disputes, and damages calculations, we prepare Conclusion of Value reports built to withstand cross-examination and third-party challenge.

Ready for a number you can actually defend?

Book a free strategy call and we'll scope the right valuation engagement for your situation.

Book A Free Strategy Call Call +1 (202) 212-9700